News

Budget delivers more to rorting MP than to Benalla

02 May 2017

The entire Benalla district has received less from the 2017-18 State Budget than the $76,000 leave pass handed to rorting Labor MP Don Nardella.

Member for Euroa and Deputy Leader of The Nationals Steph Ryan said Daniel Andrews had forgiven the MP’s debt, allowing him to repay just half of the money he rorted after he listed an address in a caravan park as his primary residence and claimed $174,000 of taxpayers money.

“Don Nardella got $76,000 from this Budget while the entire Benalla district didn’t get a cracker,” Ms Ryan said.

“This is a Melbourne budget, not a Victorian budget. While Daniel Andrews hikes our taxes, we are getting nothing in return”

Ms Ryan said for the third year in a row, the Andrews Labor Government had ignored the dire working conditions of police in Benalla.

“The budget contains no new funding for works that are desperately needed to allow our police to continue their outstanding work in our community,” Ms Ryan said.

“Benalla P-12 College is still in limbo while it waits for the $11.5 million shortfall needed to complete upgrade works.

“Spending on schools across rural and regional Victoria has been slashed by $87 million.”

The budget also confirmed Labor hasn’t set aside any money for new trains or upgrades to existing rolling stock for the north east line.

Ms Ryan said the news was a blow after Labor MPs claimed they were ‘doing their bit’ for north-east commuters.

“Daniel Andrews and Jacinta Allan spent a lot of time in the lead up to the Budget saying they were ready to invest in regional rail but budget day has come and gone and there is no money for rolling stock,” Ms Ryan said.

Ms Ryan said Daniel Andrews was no stranger to broken promises and Labor had now introduced ten new taxes, despite Daniel Andrews’ promise he wouldn’t add any new taxes.

“While Don Nardella gets to repay half of the money he stole from taxpayers at a zero percent interest rate, we will pay more for stamp duty, motor vehicle registration and council rates,” Ms Ryan said.